Help! Buy 6000 Now or Wait on 921?

[Bearbacker]

I will receive my HDTV monitor tomorrow. I'm currently a DISH subscriber. Ultimately, I want HDTV, but am not sure whether to get the 6000 now or wait for the 921.

Here is my situation. The new TV will be in the family room. I have 2 runs of coax to that spot from a distribution box in my bedroom closet. I plan on distributing the picture from the new TV to a couple of other rooms (allowing them to watch whatever is shown on the new TV). So, I will use one coax as the line into the DISH receiver, and the other one back to the distribution panel.

Question time:

1. I have ReplayTV. For recording purposes, is the ability to record HDTV the only thing I would gain by the 921?

2. I understand that the 6000 has 1 input while the 921 will have 2. Unless I run a third coax to this spot (which is probably out of the question), I won't be able to utilize the 2nd input on the 921 unless I give up the ability to distribute to other rooms. Is the only reason for having 2 inputs on the 921 so that you can watch one show and record another at the same time (which isn't that big a deal to me)?

3. My new TV has DVI input. Unless I'm mistaken, the 6000 does not have DVI output, but the 921 will. Is DVI quality enough of an upgrade over component video to get the 921 solely for this reason?

4. Is there anything I'm not thinking of that would make one receiver better than the other for my situation?

With the 921 on the horizon (hopefully), my initial thought was to hold off on HDTV for now and wait for the 921, for fear of the 6000 becoming obsolete shortly after I buy it. However, the more I've thought about it, I'm not sure the rumored cost of the 921 will be worth it to me, based on my circumstances.

What would you do? Thanks in advance.

[Mike123abc]

I have been happy with my 6000 recievers. The guide features are lacking, you only get to see current shows and next shows, and no PiP when looking at the guide. Even if you eventually decide to get a 921 you will be able to use the 6000 on other TVs. The picture quality on the HDTV is so superior it is quite noticable on non HDTV televisions when downcoverted by the 6000 to 480i.

[boba]

The 6000 has been designed without a CH3/4 output so you will need a modulator if you want to output the 6000 to other rooms. Also you will have to decide wether you want HDTV or SDTV the 6000 can't output both HD&SD at the same time and you can't modulate the HDTV output.

[BobMurdoch]

I vote for waiting for the 921, but plan on spending $1000 for it. If this is out of your comfort range than go with the 6000. Also realize that there will be a LOT of early adopters dumping their 6000's when the 921 becomes available so you may be able to get a good deal then.

Me, I'm waiting for the 921 as my 2 month old Sony KP-57WV600 is sitting there with NO HDTV content other than my XBox which only has one game in 1080i (Dragon's Lair 3D, but it doesn't look it......) You'll get me to give up my PVR when you pull it out of my cold dead fingers.

[DarrellP]

Another thing to consider. You say you currently have 2 coax cables running to where your TV is. The 921 will require 2 for the sat tuners, and 1 for OTA. You can use a diplexer to combine the OTA through one cable and split it back out at the TV to eliminate a 3rd coax.

I haven't heard yet whether or not the 921 will output HD & SD at the same time. You could consider going with a wireless transmitter instead of running another line of coax for the feed to the other TV.

[ghickman]

If you want to get a decent picture with no pixelation or ghosting and artifacts on your new HDTV, you have no choice but to get the 6000 now. The 921 seems wonderful but will be a while and if under a contract now with Dish, your price along with all our prices as existing customers will be sky high. The downconversion with the 6000 makes me very happy to spend the $500 for it and wait. I can use it in another room later when the 921 hits anyway.

DVI is the way to go for later. If you get component inputs on your HDTV or RGB, the 6000 has both outputs to give you the good picture if setup correctly. DVI can be for later...the advantages of DVI over component are not very noticable unless your HDTV has a DVI-D pure digital input...then the 921 will be worth it. Does anyone know if the 921 has DVI-D or DVI-I outputs? One advantage to DVI is it carries over menus and on the screen stuff from receivers and tuners that component or RGB does not.

[Bearbacker]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Here are a few follow-ups. Forgive me if they are stupid questions. I'm still learning!

On outputting to other rooms, help me understand this a little better. I'm not familiar with modulators. Assuming I connect the component output to the TV for HD, and the S Video or RCA output to the TV for SD, it seems like what I need is some way of splitting the S Video or RCA output into 2 outputs, one running to the TV and one back to the distribution box. Is that what a modulator does? Can you give me a quick description of how the wiring would work?

As far as the 6000 not outputting HD and SD at the same time, I guess this means that as long as I'm watching HDTV on this set, none of the other sets connected to it will be able to watch anything, correct?

Thanks again!

[EvanS]

another scenario...oddly enough the approach I am taking

buy an OTA-only STB now for about $300 and watch HDTV on local antenna. AFTER the 921 comes out make a decision...if the price for the 6000 drops a fair amount then get it. If the 600 price stays @ $600 or so then decide if the additiona $500 for the 921 makes sense (and to me, if I am willing to put out $600 for the 6000 then going up to the 921 insterad makes real sense.

Either way, if you get an E* HD box, sell the OTA box on eBay for $250 or $300.